On the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis

Northwestern faculty, staff, students and alumni are stepping up in response to the global challenge that is the coronavirus pandemic.

From high-impact research, drug trials and innovative new projects, scientists are helping mitigate COVID-19. In our communities, experts and volunteers are pitching in, performing tasks large and small to help lift up neighbors and those in need. On campus, the fabric of the University community is being remade in the digital space so everyone can work, learn and laugh together in ways that feed the soul and sustain us all.

Consult the University COVID-19 page to see new developments, guidance and FAQs for the Northwestern community. Visit our community to see what’s happening at our new virtual gathering place. And follow Northwestern Now for coverage of the pandemic and storytelling on how Northwestern is responding.

COVID-19 Research

Scientists race to mitigate coronavirus

AI speeds search for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines

Northwestern researchers are using artificial intelligence to speed up the search for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. A new AI-powered tool makes it possible to prioritize resources for the most promising studies while ignoring research that is unlikely to yield benefits.

Team develops new antibody test for COVID-19

As antibody testing ramps up across the country, Northwestern researchers have developed a new method for antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The method requires only a single drop of blood collected from a simple finger prick.

Building a better COVID-19 test

Northwestern synthetic biologists have received funding to develop an easy-to-use, quick-screen technology that can test for infectious diseases like COVID-19. Similar to a pregnancy test, the tool uses one sample to provide a quick negative or positive. By simplifying a test, researchers could put diagnostics into the hands of people everywhere.

Super-charging coronavirus drug development

Researchers are ramping up production of a promising drug that has proven effective in obliterating SARS-CoV in cellular cultures. The team hopes that the drug might also be effective in the fight against SARS’s close genetic cousin, the novel coronavirus.

Power of a pandemic

New drug target found

A multi-university team that includes Northwestern scientists has said new findings suggest drugs that had previously been in development to treat SARS could now be developed as effective drugs against COVID-19.

‘Smart containment’ can save lives and the economy

Mask deactivates viruses

To reduce the number and activity of viruses, researcher Jiaxing Huang’s team is investigating anti-viral chemicals that can be safely built into medical face masks to self-sanitize passing respiratory droplets.

Doing Good to Fight COVID-19

Lending a hand to the most vulnerable in the time of pandemic

A path to greater equity in education

More than 200 Chicago community organizations have come together in a new digital space designed by Northwestern learning sciences expert Nichole Pinkard. Her work improves access for Chicago children and helps them connect with friends and mentors, and it is especially valuable in the time of COVID-19.

Getting supplies in the right hands

To move vital medical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic where they are needed most, Northwestern University is collaborating with Chicago startup Rheaply to create a central hub that quickly connects Illinois healthcare providers with supplies.

Printing face shields to protect against COVID-19 infection

Powered by a single 3D printer, Northwestern researchers hope to make a meaningful dent in hospitals’ need for personal protective equipment (PPE). A critical piece of PPE, face shields protect health care workers from the coronavirus as they treat patients.

First-year medical students Tricia Rae Pendergrast is co-organizer of the project Students Supporting the Community During COVID-19. The project has put more than 140 volunteers on the street to help the local community with shopping, virtual tutoring, collecting masks and more.

COVID-19 Analyzer fights misinformation

A team of Medill students is providing daily fact-checks on public statements about the ongoing pandemic. The COVID-19 Analyzer enables users to research stories, public statements and social media reports for accuracy.

Accelerating COVID-19 prison release efforts

Safe social distancing is virtually impossible in prison, and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law attorneys have been working to release detainees from Cook County jails, young adult prisons and detention centers.